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Ohio State 'Nursing' Injury With C Felix Okpara

In addition to Ohio State Buckeyes forward Zed Key, who is out for the rest of the year, center Felix Okpara has been banged up for the past few weeks with two games to go in the regular season.

Casey Smith

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Ohio State Buckeyes center Felix Okpara's athleticism allows him to go up and throw down a dunk whenever he wants.

That might have been a little more challenging for the freshman recently.

Head coach Chris Holtmann said on his radio show Monday that Okpara has been dealing with an injury for "about three weeks" but that the issue isn't long-term.

"He's battling just a bit of an injury that slowed him down a little bit that we're just kind of nursing here a little bit towards the finish line," Holtmann said on 97.1 The Fan.

Holtmann declined to provide further details on the specifics of Okpara's injury.

The Buckeyes' big man played eight minutes against the Illinois Fighting Illini, but Holtmann said it was mainly because he wanted a "better matchup" on Illini forward Coleman Hawkins.

Holtmann said Okpara is not on a minutes restriction as of now.

The Lagos, Nigeria, native has assumed the role as the Buckeyes' starting five man after it was announced that forward Zed Key was set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

Okpara is averaging 3.5 points and 3.2 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game this season, while swatting away a team-high 30 shots.

Guard Isaac Likekele has filled in at the five spot occasionally, but guard Eugene Brown III has assumed an increased role when Okpara takes a seat.

Brown scored a season-high nine points against Illinois Sunday on a perfect 4-for-4 mark from the field. In each of the last three games, Brown has played at least 15 minutes, something he did just once in his first 13 games of the season.

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Casey Smith
CASEY SMITH

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